The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an extensive set of orders on Tuesday that lay out plans to implement President Trump's directive to increase immigration enforcement and deport more undocumented immigrants.

Critics of former President Obama noted that he deported enormous numbers of immigrants. The charge is true. During his first five years in office, Obama deported nearly 2 million people - the fastest rate of any U.S. president in history.

The new memos depart from deportation policies of previous presidential administrations in several significant ways.

The "expedited removal" process allows Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to deport people nearly as soon as they are apprehended.

Under presidents Bush and Obama, the expedited removal process was used only within 100 miles of the border, for people who had been in the country for no more than 14 days. Because expedited removal allows agents to deport immigrants without a full hearing before an immigration judge, it was a process that was used only for a small group of people.

Under Trump, expedited removal will be expanded to include immigrants who are found anywhere in the country and have been here for up to two years.

The directives also instruct ICE and the Customs and Border protection agency to reinvigorate the 287(g) program, which deputizes local police officers and sheriff's deputies to assist with deportations.

This program - which was not a priority during the Obama administration - is at the heart of Trump's fight with major cities across the country, who would rather have their police departments focus on fighting crime.

Some immigration advocates, scrambling for silver linings, noted that the new directives don't mention any changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

But just because the memos don't mention the DACA program doesn't mean it's safe. Trump has gone back and forth about whether to end the program, and the White House is reportedly still identifying different ways to end the young people's protections without creating a firestorm of controversy.

But these new memos should set off their own firestorm of controversy. They make it clear that nearly all undocumented immigrants are now at risk, no matter where they live or what their status is. This new approach isn't about public safety; it's overreaching and cruel.

Online:

http://www.sfchronicle.com

___

Feb. 21

The Denver Post on President Trump's choice of Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as national security adviser:

President Donald Trump's pick of Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to replace his disgraced national security adviser, Michael Flynn, reassures on many levels.

McMaster is a serious warrior scholar. Those who know him speak highly of his lack of pretense and praise his battlefield experience. That experience includes reforming U.S. counterterrorism strategy to defeat insurgents in Iraq, a plan developed in part in Colorado as McMaster ran Fort Carson's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in 2004. McMaster's approach won praise during the 2007 surge in Baghdad.

Prior to that, McMaster led an armored regiment in America's first Iraq war in a famous battle against a much larger Iraqi Republican Guard force. Outnumbered, but not outdone, McMaster's role in the battle led to comparisons to Gen. George Patton.

Heady stuff indeed. But there's more: McMaster also is a student of the responsibility to think and speak independently on issues of national security. His book, "Dereliction of Duty," published in 1997, takes a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes actions and inactions by the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Johnson administration's execution of the war in Vietnam.

One of the then-young doctoral candidate's thesis arguments is that civilian and military advisers too often held their counsel when Johnson ignored important advice. As The Associated Press reported, the book won McMaster the reputation for having the courage to speak truth to power.

As Congressman Mike Coffman, R-Colo., tells us, McMaster's book found that had the joint chiefs stood up to the president, "they wouldn't have gotten so deeply into that quagmire."

"He's somebody who will stand up to the president when he disagrees with the president," Coffman said, "and I think we need that now."

Good to know, given the dizzying collapse of Flynn, a Trump pick whose out-of-the-gate actions were a disaster and an embarrassment. We railed last week against Flynn's dishonesty in dealing with top Trump officials about the nature of his conversation with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.

McMaster's critique of the Johnson administration reminds us that one of the books Trump strategist Stephen Bannon suggested to some during Trump's transition to the White House: "The Best and the Brightest," David Halberstam's 1972 look into errors by the Kennedy administration that pulled the U.S. into Vietnam.

As Bannon told columnist Marc Tracy, "It's great for seeing how little mistakes early on can lead to big ones later."

Given the early turmoil of Trump's moves on the National Security Council, including giving Bannon unprecedented power among the advisers, we hope that Trump's choice of McMaster is evidence that he has learned from his mistakes with Flynn and now appreciates the need for a balancing counterpoint to the much-less-experienced Bannon.

In accepting the new role, McMaster said he looked forward to "doing everything that I can to advance and protect the interests of the American people."

We wish him all the best in accomplishing his goals.

Online:

https://www.denverpost.com

___

Feb. 21

The New York Times on saving Greece's economy:

With the Greek government set to run out of cash by the end of July, the country's main creditors in Europe continue to demand harsh budget cuts as a condition for crucial loans. But after a decade of failing to save Greece, Germany and other European nations, along with the International Monetary Fund, ought to try a different approach, one that makes reviving the economy a priority.

Greece's creditors appear willing to provide new loans to pay off debts coming due this year as long as the country commits to achieving a fiscal surplus of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product before interest payments by 2018. The I.M.F., more sensibly, has argued for a surplus of 1.5 percent. It also says that European officials should commit to reducing the Greek government's debt, which is so huge that it equals about 180 percent of the country's annual economic output. That debt relief could come in various forms, including giving the country more time to repay or reducing the amount owed.

The monetary fund is right. Requiring the country to run big budget surpluses when its economy is growing at an annual rate of only 0.4 percent is cruel and counterproductive. Based on current trends, the fund projects that the country's debt will increase to more than 250 percent of G.D.P. during the next several decades. European officials are much more optimistic, but that hopefulness is based on the dubious assumption that Greece can run large budget surpluses for decades to come.

European, I.M.F. and Greek officials ought to be coming up with ways to revive the Greek economy, reduce unemployment - 23 percent in November - and strengthen the financial system; borrowers of nearly half of all loans are not making payments. Greece and other European countries can invest in improving crumbling public services and infrastructure. Buses in Athens make do with worn-out tires, often at great risk to public safety, because there is not enough money for spare parts. And hospitals cannot hire doctors or buy medicines and syringes.

Greece could pay those costs if creditors accepted lower surpluses. The European Union could offer grants and loans for projects that improve the economy. The government can raise money by making sure its tax collection agency is not subject to political pressure. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and previous leaders have committed to that, but experts say the agency is still subject to meddling. Getting more people, especially the middle class, to pay taxes - more than half of households don't - would also help raise money without hurting the economy. And the country needs a more efficient system for restructuring mortgages and business debts to deal with bad loans and free up banks to lend money again.

Only once a recovery takes hold will the government have money to pay back its debts. After squeezing Greece no matter the cost, European officials ought to recognize that their analysis has been flawed. The more they insist on getting Greece to cut spending and raise taxes, the further they get from reviving the nation so that it no longer needs their financial support.

Online:

http://www.nytimes.com

___

Feb. 22

China Daily on President Trump's first month:

Some say Donald Trump has had the "worst," ''most unsettling" start to a US presidency in recent history. Some assume the traditional, courtesy honeymoon period enjoyed by each new administration has already ended.

Certainly, the Trump administration's report card for its first month in office is messy by any account. Most seem to be revolting against his notorious executive order on immigration; his national security adviser had to resign, his labor secretary nominee has withdrawn, a great number of key decision-making positions remain unfilled; and reports have it that Trump is even having trouble adapting to life in the White House. And that is not to mention his seemingly endless war of words with the media.

At home, he is an unpopular leader, widely viewed as erratic, self-absorbed, worrisomely unprepared for presidential functions. Abroad, he has left many wondering whether, or to what extent, he may disrupt traditional alliances and partnerships, and ultimately affect the global geopolitical landscape.

Still, there is at least one thing to celebrate: For all the confusion and contradiction on the home front, the Trump administration has, so far at least, made none of the foreign policy blunders his campaign rhetoric promised. That in itself qualifies as a remarkable feat given the dangerous potential of his campaign-trail rhetoric and the fact that he has sought to deliver on poorly thought-out policy promises on domestic issues.

In fairness to the Trump administration, with regard the China-US relationship it is actually to be commended, considering the prevailing sense of uncertainty surrounding this crucial bilateral relationship after Trump, prior to taking office, ruffled diplomatic feathers with an offensive phone conversation with the leader of Taiwan and the threat not to uphold the one-China principle.

The diplomatic interaction between Beijing and the new administration in Washington, though feisty in the beginning, seems to have proved instrumental in facilitating initial mutual understanding. Both sides seem to have emerged from the first weeks more conscious of the other's core concerns and bottom lines, and their assurance to each other of their commitment to constructive engagement is a precious gain on its own.

With their divergent agendas and world outlooks, it would be difficult for Beijing and Washington to become allies. But the first month of the Trump presidency shows they do not have to be enemies either.

Online: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/

___

Feb. 18

The Miami Herald on President Trump and Russia:

The political upheaval over any possible - and nefarious - relationship between President Donald Trump, any of his aides and Russia continues to plague his administration, even causing the resignation last week of his National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, an early supporter.

Now, a growing number of Republican lawmakers are demanding expanded congressional inquiries into "the Russian matter," while the president says there's nothing here to see.

As questions about possible Russian ties swirl, President Trump used his unconventional news conference on Thursday to shut down "the Russians Are Coming" narrative engulfing his administration.

"Russia is a ruse," he told a room full of reporters - and America. He wants the attention focused instead on what he called criminal intelligence leaks and not on his ousted national security adviser, who became embroiled in a job-ending controversy after he spoke to a Russian ambassador before Trump took office.

Among the topics discussed in those telephone conversations: U.S. sanctions by the Obama administration on Russia. When asked, Flynn misled Vice President Mike Pence about the sanctions part of the conversations. He was fired.

Still, President Trump believes the concern over ties with Russia are an attempts by opponents to question the veracity of his presidential victory.

"This nonsense of the Russian connection is simply an attempt to cover up the many mistakes made in the defeated Hillary Clinton campaign," he tweeted.

Well, we do not believe it to be so.

This issue has nothing to do with mistakes made in Hillary Clinton's campaign. The reality is that the resignation of the ephemeral Flynn is not enough to contain the scandal. The FBI is hovering over new reports of Trump advisers' having contacts with Russian officials during the elections and GOP-led congressional committees are pondering probes. FBI Director James Comey was called to Congress on Friday.

Among them lawmakers calling for more thorough investigations is Sen. John McCain. He feels Flynn's resignation raised serious questions and at the same time concerns about nation's security as Trump searches for a replacement for Flynn.

And McCain added that it must be determined whether the investigation into the Flynn case should be expanded. Yes, the investigation should be expanded.

The Russian connection that Trump attempts to downplay could be more serious than many people think, despite President Trump's assertion that he has no business or personal contacts in Russia and as far as he knows of, no one else on his team does either.

We must get to the bottom of the matter, for the sake of the nation and for the public's peace of mind. And Trump must understand that he is no longer in the electoral campaign, but in full function as president. A reality lost as this weekend he scheduled two campaign-like events, one in South Carolina and another in Melbourne, Florida.

He must understand that investigating the Russian connection is not a cover-up related to Hillary Clinton's campaign - and implying in a Friday tweet that the media, not Russia, is the enemy of the American people is shameful.

It is an examination into renegade contacts with officials of a foreign power who intervened in the American elections. And that investigation must be carried to its ultimate consequences for the sake of democracy.

Online: http://www.miamiherald.com

___

Feb. 21

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on the White House's response to white supremacists and ant-Semites:

President Donald Trump can no longer dodge and distract from the cold reality that his administration has granted a platform for white supremacists and anti-Semites to advance their twisted causes. His failure to lead has helped members of the "alt-right" expand their reach.

On Tuesday, Trump finally spoke out, but only after nearly 200 gravestones were overturned at a Jewish cemetery in University City. Nationwide, Jewish organizations are warning about a spike in bomb threats and harassment aimed at Jews.

"The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community at community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil," Trump stated.

Hours earlier, former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton prodded Trump to speak out about the University City attack, whose perpetrators and motives remain unknown.

Trump has inflicted serious damage upon himself with shoulder-shrugging responses to questions about anti-Semitism. Questioned last Wednesday about the failure of a White House statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day to mention the slaughter of 6 million Jews, Trump answered by reminding reporters of his Electoral College margin over Clinton.

The following day, Trump called on an Orthodox Jewish reporter during a news conference. The reporter questioned him about a nationwide rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Trump interrupted, ordered the reporter to "sit down" and "be quiet," then declared himself to be "the least anti-Semitic person that you've ever seen in your entire life."

The president doth protest too much. Actions speak louder than words, and the most damaging action Trump has taken to undermine his "least anti-Semitic" title was to name Stephen K. Bannon as his chief White House strategist and member of the National Security Council. Before taking the job, Bannon headed Breitbart News, a website Bannon described last year as "the platform for the alt-right."

The Southern Poverty Law Center defines the alt-right as "a set of far-right ideologies, groups and individuals whose core belief is that 'white identity' is under attack by multicultural forces using 'political correctness' and 'social justice' to undermine white people and 'their' civilization."

When Bannon left Breitbart, Milo Yiannopoulos took over as editor. Not once has the Trump administration challenged Breitbart's alt-right alignment or urged the website to moderate its postings. But on Monday, the Conservative Political Action Conference did cancel a keynote address by Yiannopoulos - not for his advocacy of abhorrent right-wing views but because Yiannopoulos had recorded a video that favors loosening laws against pedophilia. Yiannopoulos resigned from Breitbart on Tuesday.

Against that backdrop, Trump's belated condemnation of anti-Semitism rings hollow. The Anne Frank Center called it "pathetic."

Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, has every reason to demand wider official acknowledgment that "anti-Semitism is alive and kicking." Hate mongers will have a prominent friend as long as Trump keeps Bannon in the White House.